瘦

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 瘦 (shòu) for "thin" or "skinny" is composed of two parts: the radical 肉 (ròu) meaning "meat" or "flesh", and the phonetic component 叟 (sǒu). The radical 肉 indicates that the character is related to the human body, while the phonetic component 叟 provides a hint about its pronunciation.The original form of 瘦 was 肉, which simply meant "meat". Over time, the character evolved to include the phonetic component 叟, which helped to distinguish it from other characters with the same radical. The addition of 叟 also gave 瘦 a more specific meaning of "thin" or "skinny".In modern Chinese, 瘦 is commonly used to describe people or animals that are thin or have little body fat. It can also be used to describe objects that are thin or narrow, such as a piece of paper or a stick. The character 瘦 is also used in a figurative sense to describe things that are lacking in substance or quality, such as a weak argument or a bland meal.The etymology of 瘦 provides insights into the development of Chinese characters and the way they have been used over time. By understanding the origins and evolution of characters, learners can gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and complexity of the Chinese language.